How Do I...

Obtain Telephone Advice?

Interruptions during surgery are upsetting to both doctor and patient. To avoid this, doctors will usually be available to take calls between 12 noon and 12.30pm or by arrangement with the receptionist. Please give the receptionist as much information as possible so that your query can be dealt with in a timely manner. This will be treated in complete confidence.

Make An Appointment?

An appointment system operates at both morning and afternoon surgeries and appointments may be made at reception in person or by telephone (we hope to offer online booking at some future date). Please make appointments as soon as possible. Do not leave it until the last minute unless it is genuinely urgent, in which case please explain to the receptionist, giving as much information as possible - remember this is all treated in confidence.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that the appointment can be offered to someone else. A separate appointment is required for each person to be seen. When you come to the health centre please check in at reception so that your details may be confirmed. Please remember each booked appointment is for 10 minutes only. We tried to design the system to balance the needs for continuity, patient choice, and speedy access.

When making an appointment you have three choices:

1. You may book an appoontment with a doctor of your choice, usually up to one month in advance. Sometimes around holiday periods we restrict the numbers of booked appointments to allow more space for urgent and semi-urgent appointments. For ongoing care of a condition it is usually better to see the same doctor if possible. If you wish to see a specific doctor of your choice you may have to wait a little longer for an available slot.
2. If you need to be seen (for medical reasons, not just for a repeat prescription or sick line etc) within 48 hours, you will ALWAYS be able to to get an appointment with a doctor but it may not be your first choice of doctor. We will always try to facilitate your choice of doctor where possible but this cannot be guaranteed within two working days.
3. If you need to be seen on the same day for an urgent medical reason you will be offered an emergency slot that day.

Sometimes it is not necessary to see a doctor as you may simply want advice or have a question to ask. Alternatives to appointments are either leaving a message with a receptionist, speaking to a doctor on the phone (if we cannot speak to you when you phone just leave your contact details and we will return your call when we are free, but please give as much information as possible to the receptionist), or you may wish to speak to one of the practice nurses, especially if it is about a chronic condition like diabetes, cardiac disease, asthma or you need travel vaccinations.

Obtain A Home Visit?

Home visits are for patients who are too frail or ill to get to the surgery and should not be requested simply because it is inconvenient to travel. On average, three to four times as many patients can be seen in the surgery in the time it takes to see one at home.

For home visits, contact the health centre before 10.30am (emergencies excluded). Please give the receptionist adequate information, so that the doctor may assess the need and urgency of the request.

Obtain Test Results?

Please telephone after 2.00pm for results of all tests to allow time for processing. Results will NOT be given to another person unless we have your permission.